"The Guy Next Door" - Anthology - 2011


The first 'real' paperback I'd read in a while...huge bummer to find out it consists of two fucking prequels and a forgettable novella!  

I began reading out of order, because I really like a few of Susan Donavan's novels.  Her story was fine, could have done without the annoying teenagers - but I could not get past the fact that the heroine was a professor at "Beaverdale Collage" in Beaverdale, PA.  I grew up 10 minutes from Beaverdale, PA which features Bud's Auto Sales, an EZ Shopper, a pool hall my 30 year old friend is still not 'allowed' (by the parents) to go into - and a defunct punk house.   I had several laughs thinking where the college would fit in!  Unfortunately it's just one of those little things an author can't control, and I'll remember the setting long after I've forgotten the story.  
Next, I read "Just One Taste" by Victoria Dahl, who I've never read anything by.  I was enjoying the story (even though it stretched the boundaries of fitting under the heading 'guy next door' a bit)  of two business people who meet at a local convention.  However, the story ends after their one night stand and sets it up to buy not only their story, but his fucking brother's stories as well.  Bull shit.  I never mind a teaser for a series at the end of a novel, the first chapter to wet your whistle and get you pumped, but as a  story in a novella?  Ahhh!  I read anthologies when I don't have time or energy for novels - they are supposed to wrap up neatly and be done. So pissed.

Well after that, I did my research and learned from the AAR review (that I should have read first!) that Lori Foster's story was a teaser for a series as well!  I didn't even bother.

I hope this is not a trend.

Only because they were free...


"Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch - B.J. Daniels - 2009

I might have really enjoyed this book back in 6th grade when I was in my Mary Higgins Clark phase...


"Speed Dating" - Nancy Warren - 2007

Uh, yeah.  That's a NASCAR book...
I know, I know - but it was free!  I think I'd actually feel better about reading "Speed Dating" if it had been good.  However, the plot was asinine, the hero was a jerk and worst of all, it featured NASCAR driver Carl Edwards as a character, and I just can not handle that!

Only because they were free...


"Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch - B.J. Daniels - 2009

I might have really enjoyed this book back in 6th grade when I was in my Mary Higgins Clark phase...


"Speed Dating" - Nancy Warren - 2007

Uh, yeah.  That's a NASCAR book...
I know, I know - but it was free!  I think I'd actually feel better about reading "Speed Dating" if it had been good.  However, the plot was asinine, the hero was a jerk and worst of all, it featured NASCAR driver Carl Edwards as a character, and I just can not handle that!








"Throwaway" - Heather Huffman - 2010

"Throwaway" is not your typical romance novel - wrapped up in a typical romance.  
It features many favorite romance novel conventions:
Wrong side of the tracks/Opposites Attract
Secondary Romance
First Love 
Nice Guy Cop (hero)
Small Town/Diner/Family
Running from Bad Guys (typical of Romantic Suspense)

But, this is what makes it NOT a typical romance, the heroine is a prostitute.  
I've seen many historical romances featuring courtesans and mistresses - and movies frequently reference the 'hooker with a heart of gold' but Jessie doesn't really fit either of these stereotypes.  She was forced out of the state foster care system and ended up with a pimp who won't even free her when she 'retires' because then he'll just keep her for himself, she doesn't have any real outs...even after she meets a cop named Gabe who knows what she does and still falls for her.  

I liked this novel, it felt self-published (it's published by Booktrope which seems really cool actually) not in the sense that it was full of grammatical errors and typos, but in the sense that a contemporary romance published by the big houses would not feature a heroine like Jessie.  

I enjoyed this book, it's really a light read despite the subject matter - 
most of the darker issues are avoided or explained away - and she does encourage donating money to the cause of girls like Jessie on her Blog.

"Dancing in the Moonlight" - Raeanne Thayne - 2006





I enjoyed this series romance, but every time an author uses song lyrics as a title it's in my head the whole freaking time....the upside, at least now I know who sings this song!


"The Bride's Baby" - Liz Fielding - 2008

Let's face it, sometimes a cheesy romance is exactly what you need.  
I really enjoyed this series romance - despite it's unbelievable plot, and the hero being a billionaire.  

Honestly, when did being a plain old millionaire become not good enough?  I know romance is a fantasy, but you would think recession would make romance writers more reasonable with their characters, but instead it's all sheiks and billionaires! 

But anyway, I had an undisturbed evening and guzzled this one down - even got a little choked up a few times!